The Trump Administration has held more than 10,000 immigrant children in detention at facilities in Texas and other states along the border, and the treatment of these kids has come under major scrutiny. Several lawsuits allege that the administration did not meet the minimum standard of care, which requires the least restrictive environment possible. The plaintiffs claim that the government did this purposefully to punish immigrant families.

Many of the migrant kids were locked up in federal facilities even though they had family in the U.S. who could take them in according to advocates. Most underage migrants come to the country as teenagers, with or without parents, fleeing violence in Central America. Even though they are seeking asylum, advocates say some asylum seekers are being treated as criminals in the U.S. justice system.

Another lawsuit filed against the Trump Administration’s Office of Refugee Resettlement accuses officials of enforcement against families sponsoring migrant children. When people offer to house these migrant children, ICE arrests them if they’re found to be in the country unlawfully. The lawsuit alleges that the purpose of this type of enforcement is to deter of migrant families from coming to the United States, and this action causes great harm to the children involved.

Migrant families, including children, may benefit from having legal counsel represent them when going to immigration court or dealing with immigrant enforcement officials. Unfortunately, many children and adults go without representation and are unable to understand how the system works. A lawyer will use the resources at their disposal to advocate on their client’s behalf. This could result in an asylum claim being granted or some other remedy. When a migrant is mistreated by immigration officials, they also have the option to sue.